The Golden Dawn Enochian Skrying Tarot

The Golden Dawn Enochian Skrying Tarot is the only deck of its kind to contain two separate and distinct tarot decks in one, each with its own set of imagery, card interpretations, card spreads, skrying symbols, and magical uses. One side of this nontraditional deck depicts the divine energies and angelic forces of the Golden Dawn’s Enochian Watchtower system. The other side illustrates the elemental or Tattvic forces that are the esoteric building blocks of the universe. Collectively, the entire double-sided card system presented in this kit is known as The Golden Dawn Enochian Skrying Tarot, while the two separate tarot decks represented on each side of the deck are known respectively as The Enochian Watchtower Tarot and The Western Tattva Tarot. This deck was specifically designed for ritual work, ceremonial invocation, skrying visions, astral projection, and angelic communication—in addition to divination.

The Enochian Watchtower Tarot Enochian Magic is one of the cornerstones of the Western Magical Tradition. It was originally discovered in the late 1500s by the renowned magus Dr. John Dee, a distinguished mathematician, scientist, mystic, astrologer, and adviser to Queen Elizabeth I. Using engraved tables, crystals, black mirrors, and other specially designed magical tools to facilitate skrying visions and spirit communications, Dee and his seer, Edward Kelly, uncovered an extraordinary system of magic over a period of seven years, including an entire language with its own unique alphabet and syntax. This language became known as “Enochian” or “Angelic” because it was said to be the language of the angels, revealed to the Biblical prophet Enoch. In the late 1800s, the Golden Dawn incorporated it into its teachings.

One important section of Golden Dawn Enochian magic deals with what are known as the “Watchtowers.” The Watchtowers, assigned to the four directions, are the four gates or portals that exist between our world and the invisible realm of the Enochian entities. This is a realm in which a complete hierarchy of spiritual beings exists, from the highest and most abstract concept of divinity to the lower and more accessible spirits who are directly responsible for shaping, and causing changes in, the physical world—the angelic “movers and shakers” of the universe. The powers of Watchtowers are centered on four grids of squares and letters known as the “Watchtower Tablets,” or the “Elemental Tablets,” because they relate to the four directions of east, west, north, and south, as well as the four elements of Air, Water, Earth, and Fire. A fifth tablet, known as the Tablet of Union, is attributed to the ruling element of Spirit. These tablets contain various divine names associated with the elements, as well as the names of numerous angels, archangels, governors, seniors, elemental beings, and spiritual dominions known as aethyrs.

The Golden Dawn developed the Enochian system into a comprehensive system for practical magic that includes basic ritual work, meditation, angelic invocations, evocation of spirits, consecration of magical tools and talismans, divination, spiritual development, astral projection, and Skrying in the Spirit Vision. Some of the highest teachings of the Golden Dawn include skrying into the various squares (or pyramids) of the Enochian Watchtower Tablets. The Enochian Watchtower Tarot was specifically created for all of these magical uses.

The “front side” of The Golden Dawn Enochian Skrying Tarot is called The Enochian Watchtower Tarot. The four suits of The Enochian Watchtower Tarot represent the elemental forces of the four Watchtowers of Fire, Water, Air, and Earth. Each suit contains twenty-two cards that contain four different card types that relate to different levels of angelic hierarchies on an Enochian Tablet. The four card types include:

The names of these card types reflect the rank and position of the various Divine Powers, angels, and archangels that inhabit the Watchtower.

Each card includes the various attributions that are associated with it: elemental colors, zodiacal symbols, planetary emblems, Watchtower seal, Hebrew letter correspondence, geomantic figure, tarot card association, Egyptian God or Goddess affiliation, illustrations of Sphinxes and the name of the divine Enochian powers or angels that are associated with the card.

Enochian Magic and Ritual WorkSince the four suits represent the four Enochian Watchtowers, this deck is tailor-made for Enochian ritual work, such as angelic invocations or Enochian Calls. The cards themselves can be set up and arranged to form four complete Enochian Watchtower Tablets. Any meditation, ritual, or magical working that utilizes Enochian divine names or entities, such as the Golden Dawn’s Supreme Invoking Ritual of the Pentagram or Israel Regardie’s Opening by Watchtower Ceremony, can be enhanced by using the appropriate cards of this deck as focal points for the ritual. Enochian skrying rituals can be easily devised for use with the various cards.

The Western Tattva Tarot The “back side” of The Golden Dawn Enochian Skrying Tarot is called The Western Tattva Tarot. Like The Enochian Watchtower Tarot, The Western Tattva Tarot is divided into four elemental suits. Card for card, the two decks share the exact same elemental correspondences, but that is all they share. In magic, the elements refer to spiritual realms, kingdoms, or divisions of nature.

The Western Tattva Tarot is based on five alchemical symbols, including four elemental triangles. In this deck they are called the “Western Tattvas” because they are Western equivalents of the Eastern Tattva symbols.

The Eastern Tattvas have long been used by ceremonial magicians for the purposes of meditation, skrying, and astral projection. However, the Western Magical Tradition has its own set of elemental symbols. They are assigned the Hebrew names for the elements (Aretz—Earth, Ruach—Air, Maim—Water, Ash—Fire, and Eth—Spirit). Western Tattvas that are composed of mixed elements are known as Compound Elements, and are pictured as triangles within triangles. These elegantly simple emblems are perfectly designed for use in traditional skrying rituals that employ Qabalistic god-names and Hebrew angels rather than Enochian ones.

A Tarot for Skrying The word skrying comes from the old English word descry, meaning “to see” or “to observe.” Skrying is a form of clairvoyance that usually uses mirrors, crystals, a bowl of water, or other skrying devices. In the Golden Dawn, skrying is often performed by using a painted symbol, such as a tattva or elemental symbol. But it is also performed using tarot cards, planetary symbols, and Enochian Pyramids. The magician performing astral work, such as skrying, is sometimes referred to as a “seer”or “skryer.”

Exploration of the astral realm is very important in magical work. Through astral work, the magician learns to contact higher spiritual realms, examine their landscapes, and bring back information. What we are talking about here is controlled astral visions—meaningful and intense experiences that are completely understandable. In these visions, the skryer maintains complete control and all of his or her powers of choice, will power, and judgment.

DivinationThere are not one but two sets of card meanings associated with every card. Tarot readings may be performed with either side of the deck, because The Enochian Watchtower Tarot and The Western Tattva Tarot each have card interpretations that are unique to the symbolism of their respective sides.

Divinatory meanings for each card of The Enochian Watchtower Tarot were specially created for this deck using a method based on a traditional Golden Dawn formula used in Enochian magic.

Card interpretations for The Western Tattva Tarot have been developed from two Eastern magical and divinatory systems: the Hindu Tattvas and the I Ching, or Chinese “Book of Changes.”

Divinations may be performed using either side of the cards in this deck—or both sides! Whichever side is used, it is important to note that a divination is not to be viewed as some unalterable fate which absolves one of personal responsibility. Instead, it should be viewed as a way to gain insight about the forces that are in motion regarding a specific situation. How you use this insight is completely up to you.

A card reading is like a road map—it shows you what routes are available to you. Some roads are like major highways that are most likely to get you where you want to go quickly. Other routes are like small country roads meandering here and there to take you along the scenic routes before finally arriving at your destination. This particular map also shows where roads may be blocked, or where new highways are opening up. You are always free to take any one of the paths shown in the reading, or none of them.

A Complete Magical SystemThe Golden Dawn Enochian Skrying Tarot kit is not simply a tarot deck with a book of card descriptions—it is much more versatile. This kit contains a comprehensive system for divination, ritual work, and spiritual growth. Its application is limited only by the reader’s imagination, creativity, and skill.

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